Wheels on Fire 100

The Wheels on Fire 100 page, provides you with the official registration information, ride distances etc. and if you scroll down a bit, videos, interviews and ride reports for this event. If you don’t see a ride report and you participated in the event in the past, feel free to type something up and we’ll add it here!

Date: September 29, 2018

Event: Wheels on Fire 100

Route Distances: 25, 50, 100 miles and 100K

About the Ride:

The course will take riders on a journey down Historic Route 66 from Tucumcari to San Jon. After a stop to refill at the San Jon Community center, riders will make the trek up the caprock to the High Plains of Eastern New Mexico. At Grady, riders will have the opportunity to refill at the Grady Community center before heading out on the course. The next stop is Ragland where riders will have some great photo opts as the look down the caprock to the scenic mesas below. The final leg of their journey will start with an amazing decent leaving Ragland.

There will be 6 restops and SAG support through out the course.

50 Mile ride will be an out and back from Tucumcari to San Jon along Historic Route 66

100 K will be an out and back from Tucumcari to San Jon, then south to the 100 K turn around.

Cash Prizes for 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place male and female in the full 100 mile distance will be awarded.

After the ride plan on staying for Tucumcari’s Main Street’s FiredUp event. This is a great event with plenty for the family to do from entertainment, vendor’s, food trucks, car show, etc.

Check out the great lodging options along Historic Route 66

Things to know about the Wheels on Fire 100

Bring the family

Family members can enjoy Tucumcari’s dinosaur museum, and museums about history and Route 66. We have great local restaurants and an art gallery. Good lodgings at great rates are plentiful. Tucumcari’s portion of old Route 66 is living history.

And you can join the family for the Fired Up! festival after the ride. Admission is free and there are plenty of attractions, including fire dancers, live music, lots of food, and even fireworks.

Weather

High temperatures in late September vary from 50°F to 80°F but are rarely below 45°F or above 90°F. Be ready for just about anything.

The wind turbines at the top of the Caprock wouldn’t be there if the wind wasn’t. Conditions can range from breezy to downright windy. Winds come predominantly from the south or west, but occasionally from the north or east.

The route is basically square–due east to due south to due west to due north, so the wind will be at your back as much as it is in your face. With a typical southwest wind, you’re likely to have the wind pushing you at the end when you need it most.

People, roads and wildlife

You’ll be riding in Eastern New Mexico, where there are more cows than people. Folks in cars, trucks or farm vehicles are likely to wave. Just wave or nod back.

The pavement will include everything from smooth and easy to a little lumpy and rough, but you’ll have light traffic, minimal hard climbs and great plains and high desert scenery.

We have lots of wildlife. Deer might cross the road ahead of you. You’re likely to see road runners, antelope and an occasional turtle, not to mention wild turkey and quail. You might see a fox or a coyote, or even a few tarantulas lumbering across the road this time of year. Leave them alone and they plod ahead as if you weren’t there.

Be prepared

We’ll have facilities set up in San Jon, at the top of Caprock, and at Grady and Ragland. The last two stretches from Grady to Ragland and from Ragland to Tucumcari are the longest, roughly 25 miles each. There’s nothing but open land between these stops. Make sure you’re carrying food, water and sports drinks for these long stretches. An extra tube and a pump or inflators would help, too, even though there will be SAG support.

Other attractions

If you want to stick around for a day or two after the ride, we would suggest a visit to Ute Lake, about 23 miles northeast on Route 54, or Conchas Lake, about 33 very scenic miles northwest of Tucumcari on Route 104 (These are nice bike routes for later, too.).

Thanks for riding with us. We hope the ride, the hospitality and the surroundings will bring you back next year.